-42-
18th September 2005, 09:39 PM
Is there any kind of referance that shows Magicians are by and large skeptics?
I must admit, that I myself had somewhat relegious upbringing. Not very heavy, but I certainly believed - at age of 12 or so - alot that was in the bible. During teen years, I shifted more to 'new age' stuff, but still incorporating the Bible that decreased as years went by - but also took up a hobby of Magic (Both of 'sleight of hand/trickery' variety and even 'spells' -paranormal- variety).
At near-adult years, I still practiced magic (of the trick variety) but stopped altogether with the "real magic", despite big 'hits'. I started to look back on those big hits with a skeptical view, and a more educated viewpoint... and came up with a lot better explainations.....
Which led to more scientific, or skeptical, looks at other things.. And things that really were seen, at that point, to be more common sense than anything. Mostly due to previous lack of information on my part, or desire to find or listen to that information. Information to the phantastical was easy, took little thought. A simple sentance from a woo can explain something that takes science a page - or a book - to explain.
Does 'Conjuring'/magic breed Skepticism?
Is there a link in learning how to fool others that makes you think about you have been fooled (or fooled yourself)?
And then make you THINK more about your assumptions? Things you just assumed were a 'given'?
You also see how easily many people look at what you do and are simply amazed and how easily it would be to transform from saying it was a 'trick' to something more divine or paranormal. It is a very easy step to take, especially if you are not recgonized as a 'tricky magician'....
*"magic" henseforth will be defined of the trickery version ;p
If the case is that knowledge of magic naturally breeds a skeptical look at things, wouldn't "skeptic-teaching" be something to be done at a young age as simple as performing - or teaching - 'magic'? -- And the whole time saying "I am tricking you" and say "I am tricking you like this" and maybe even reveal a very minor trick. (I'm not for revealing everything, though!)
An offer to a Recreational Park by magicians to teach, basic, magic to people? Hmm...... or performing in High Schools during Events? Hmm....
Right Wing people are throwing in ID into schools. Quackary at its best. What about throwing magic into schools under the flag of 'entertainment'?
Again.... Assuming there is any kind of link between Magic/Skepticism. Seems to ME there is, but I admit I have no evidence of this :)
Just an idle thought....
I must admit, that I myself had somewhat relegious upbringing. Not very heavy, but I certainly believed - at age of 12 or so - alot that was in the bible. During teen years, I shifted more to 'new age' stuff, but still incorporating the Bible that decreased as years went by - but also took up a hobby of Magic (Both of 'sleight of hand/trickery' variety and even 'spells' -paranormal- variety).
At near-adult years, I still practiced magic (of the trick variety) but stopped altogether with the "real magic", despite big 'hits'. I started to look back on those big hits with a skeptical view, and a more educated viewpoint... and came up with a lot better explainations.....
Which led to more scientific, or skeptical, looks at other things.. And things that really were seen, at that point, to be more common sense than anything. Mostly due to previous lack of information on my part, or desire to find or listen to that information. Information to the phantastical was easy, took little thought. A simple sentance from a woo can explain something that takes science a page - or a book - to explain.
Does 'Conjuring'/magic breed Skepticism?
Is there a link in learning how to fool others that makes you think about you have been fooled (or fooled yourself)?
And then make you THINK more about your assumptions? Things you just assumed were a 'given'?
You also see how easily many people look at what you do and are simply amazed and how easily it would be to transform from saying it was a 'trick' to something more divine or paranormal. It is a very easy step to take, especially if you are not recgonized as a 'tricky magician'....
*"magic" henseforth will be defined of the trickery version ;p
If the case is that knowledge of magic naturally breeds a skeptical look at things, wouldn't "skeptic-teaching" be something to be done at a young age as simple as performing - or teaching - 'magic'? -- And the whole time saying "I am tricking you" and say "I am tricking you like this" and maybe even reveal a very minor trick. (I'm not for revealing everything, though!)
An offer to a Recreational Park by magicians to teach, basic, magic to people? Hmm...... or performing in High Schools during Events? Hmm....
Right Wing people are throwing in ID into schools. Quackary at its best. What about throwing magic into schools under the flag of 'entertainment'?
Again.... Assuming there is any kind of link between Magic/Skepticism. Seems to ME there is, but I admit I have no evidence of this :)
Just an idle thought....